New Year Review Questions & Guidance by Holy Prophet (s.a.) & his Promised Devotee (a.s.)

[DawudTalut]

Peace and mercy of Allah be on you….. We Muslims start a year with lunar calendar and Solar calendar too. Lunar year is not only among Muslims. Customarily, it has been in use in many people and religions, e.g. Chinese, Hindus and other people too. Prior to Islam, lunar calendar too was in use in Arabs.

==

Now, usually each country and nation have adopted Gregorian calendar, and everywhere in world new year begins with 1st of January and ends on 31st December.

==

Years come, 12 months pass, regardless of lunar or popular Gregorian calendar. But the worldly people let pass days, months and years in bawling and racketing in works of material satisfaction, regardless they are among Muslims or non-Muslims. At places, lots of clamorous activities are made at night between 31 December and 1 January. People keep awake most of the night for hue and cry, drinking, eating, dance and singing. So end of previous year and start of new one is celebrated with nonsense things.

==

The eye of Deen / religion of majority of the world has become blind that is why their sight cannot reach to where sight of a Momin / believer reaches and should reach. Grandness of a Momin is that he should, not only, avoid these vain things and show displeasure but he should make self-review that a year came in his life and passed. Believers review in term of spirituality, what they achieved in the year and what is lost? What should be the standard to check it?

==

We Ahmadis are fortunate whom Allah the Exalted enabled to believe in The Promised Messiah – The Covenanted Mahdi (on whom be peace). He presented for us, the extract of the real teaching of Allah the Exalted and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and asked us to keep this as standard to see whether we made effort to get the purpose of our lives to become true Momin or not. He (a.s.) took Bai'at-Pledge from each Ahmadi, and by placing conditions of Bait before us, gave us program of action. He expected from each Ahmadi to make self-review according, to it daily, at weekly monthly and yearly. If we end the year and begin the new year with self-review and prayers, it will cause success in Hereafter. If we too, shall start new year with congratulations and earthly things, it is like losing a lot and gaining nothing or very less.

==

If weaknesses are still there and our review is not giving us satisfaction, then we should pray that O Allah our coming year should not be like previous year in which we showed spiritual weakness. Rather our each step should be raised for the pleasure of Allah the Exalted, our every day should be such we follow model of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in it. Our days and nights, should take us towards fulfilling the pledge of Bai'at with Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

==

This pledge asks us, did we fulfill the promise not to do shirk (making associates with One Allah)? Not the shirk of worshiping idols, sun and moon but according to saying of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), the shirk which is of pretense in deeds and show off, shirk of indulgence in hidden low desires. Did we offer Salaats, keep fastings, give charities, offer financial sacrifices, work for human services, spend time for tasks of Jama'at to please ghairullah (other-than-Allah) or as show off for world – instead of getting pleasure of Allah the Exalted? Did our hidden low desires in heart stand before Allah the Exalted?

Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained it as:

“Tauheed is not the name of this thing only that to say ‘la ilaha illallah’ with mouth and thousand idols are gathered in heart. But the person who give God-like greatness to his work, trick, deceit and plan, or rely on any human which should be at God the Exalted, or give that greatness to his self which should be given God. In all these cases, he is idol-worshipper according to Go the Exalted.”

So there is need of review by keeping this standard before us.

==

Next question is did we spent the year complete avoidance of lie and firmness on truth. Hazrat Promised Messiah (a.s.) declared the standard of it as that, Till the time when the person does not isolate himself from the selfish purposes which stop him from speaking the truth, till then he cannot be a truthful person………The very right occasion of speaking the truth is that, in which, there is fear of losing one’s life or wealth or honour.

==

Next, have we kept ourselves away from events, from which ill thoughts can be developed in heart? For example dirty films and programs on TV and internet, in this age, which corrupt thoughts. Doing so, is like drifting us away for Bait-Pledge, and our condition is worthy of worry as these things take towards a type of fornication.

==

Next review question: Did we make, and are doing, all possible efforts to safeguard us from unchaste glances? Command is for men and women to keep gaze lower, to avoid any ill possibility.

==

Then the question is, Have we make effort to avoid Fisq o Fojur, this year?... Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, to call names to Momin is Fisq……He (s.a.w.) used the word Faajir about the traders who lie during trade, and raise prices by swearing….He (s.a.w.) called Fasiq to those who are not thankful and are not patience.

This is how to avoid Fisq in depth.

==

Next, we need to ask ourselves, have we saved ourselves from doing each oppression?.. Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that To usurp someone land as big as a hand span or to get someone smallest stone by wrong way is oppression.

==

Have we kept ourselves clear from any kind of dishonesty?.... Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, Do not be dishonest, even with him who is dishonest with you.

==

Then we have to ask: Have we make effort to avoid all kinds of discord?... Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that the most mischievous people are discord-makers. They create discord by backbiting. Those who make discord among affectionate people, they are mischievous. Those who try to make involve obedient people (who follow Deen) in wrong thing or sin, are mischievous.

==

Question: Do we avoid all kind of despotic attitude?

==

Question: Do we get overcome by excitement of selves?....In this era of widespread immodesty, it is a Jihad too to avoid these excitements of self.

==

Next questions is, Have we been committed to offer regularly five daily Salaats during the year? …. Allah the Exalted has given directive and instructed about it at many places in Holy Quran……Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, To leave Salaat brings human closer to Kufr and Shirk.

==

Question: Did we keep attention towards offering Tahajjud Salaat?... Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, Make effort to be regular in Tahajjud Salaat. It is way of Saleheen / righteous. It is mean to get Allah’s nearness. It’s habit stops from sins, finishes evils, and saves from bodily ailments.

==

We have to ask to our self the question: Have we been making effort or continue to do so, to regularly invoke Durud / salutation on Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)? … It is a commandment from special directives by Allah the Exalted. It is means for acceptance of prayers. … Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, If prayers are done without Durud, they stop between earth and heavens.

==

Question: Have we been regular in saying Istighfar [begging Allah for forgiveness, cover and help]…Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, The person who keeps clinging to Istighfar (i.e. regularity), Allah the Exalted makes for him the way to come out of each hardship, and makes ease from each difficulty, grant him Rizq / provisions from those ways of which he cannot even imagine .

==

Question: Did we continue to pay attention to praise Allah the Exalted?.... Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that, A work started without praise of Allah the Exalted remains defective, unblessed and remain ineffective.

==

Then the question is: Have we continued to avoid inflicting any kind of trouble to own people or others, everyone?...Have our hands and tongues abstained making troubles to others?......Have we been using Afw / tolerance and overlooking. …. Have meekness and humbleness been our distinctive mark? …… Have we been keep relation of loyalty with God in happiness, sadness, hardship and abundance? …. Have we ever complained Him why my prayers are not answered, why that certain trouble is inflicted on me? With this complaint, a person cannot remain Momin.

==

Then the question is: Have we made effort to avoid fully each kind of ill-customs and sensualities… Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, These ill-customs and innovations lead you to lose right path. Avoid them.

==

Next question: Have we continuously made effort to fully follow commandments and guidances of Holy Quran and Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

==

Question: Have we fully left arrogance and self-conceit? Or made effort to leave these? As after Shirk, the biggest evil is arrogance and self-conceit….. Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, Arrogant will not enter paradise. The arrogance is that human deny Truth, consider people low, see them with sight of abhorrence, and treat them bad.

==

Then the question is: Have we made effort to achieve high levels of pleasant manners….. Have we made effort to adopt softness and humbleness?....The station of humbles in the eyes of Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is that, he (s.a.w.) used to pray O Allah keep me alive in state of humbleness, give me death in state of humbleness, and resurrect me in the group of humbles.

==

Question: Has every day been to make progress in us in Deen and to establish its honour and greatness…..Has the often repeated pledge by us - to give precedence to Deen over earthly life – been hollow?

CONTINUES

 

[DawudTalut]

Then, the question is: Have we made effort to make progress in the love of Islam such that we gave priority to it over our wealth, honour and considered it dear and beloved more than our children?......Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, Allah has sent me with Deen Islam, and Islam is that you hand over all of your being to Allah the Exalted, leave other deities, establish Salaat, and pay Zakaat.

==

Then we question: Do we make or have been making effort to progress in sympathy of creatures of Allah the Exalted.

==

Then the question is: Have we been making effort, with our all capacities, to give benefit to creature of God?.....Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, All creature is (like) family to Allah the Exalted. Thus Allah the Exalted very much like that person who treats His creature good and takes care their necessities.

==

Question: Have we been praying and advising our children too that high quality obedience of Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) should always remain firm in us and increase in it.

==

Then the question is: Have we increased relation of brotherhood and obedience with Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to the extent that other worldly relations should become insignificant compared to it.

==

Then the question is: Have we been praying during the year to remain firm and increase in relation of loyalty and obedience with Ahmadiyya Khilafat? Have we been asking our children to pay attention to remain connected with Ahmadiyya Khilafat and to keep connection of loyalty, and continued to pray that such attention is developed in them.

==

Then the question is: Have we been regularly praying for Khalifah of time and Jama'at.

==

Hazrat Khalifatul Messiah V (may Allah help him with His Mighty Help) further said that if the previous year is passed with positive answer to majority of questions then despite remaining some weaknesses, we gained much. If more answers to the raised questions by him are in negative, then condition is worrisome, we should ponder at our conditions. Its cure is that we should pray in these nights (last nights of year) and make strong intention and make a pledge and especially pray at the start of new year that May Allah the Exalted forgive our previous shortcomings and weaknesses, and enable us to gain maximum in the new year, may we not be losers. And may we be among those believers who, to get the pleasure of Allah the Exalted, remain ready to sacrifice all of theirs.

Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) published advices as announcement, He said:

“All my Jama'at which is present at this place, or dwell at their place, should listen to this Will with attention that those who by joining this Movement, keep relation of devotion and disciple-ness with me, by it the purpose is, so that they should reach to high stage of good character, good fortune-ness and Tawqa.

And no discord, mischief and bad character-ness may not come near them.

They should be regular in five daily Salaat in congregation, they should do not speak lie, they should not hurt anyone with tongue, they should not do any kind of evil-doing.

And should not bring even thought of any mischief, oppression, discord and sedition in heart.

In short, they should avoid every kind of sins, crimes, things not worth doing, things not worth saying and all low self passions and improper actions.

And they should become clean hearted, evil-less, meek natured servant of God the Exalted.

And no poisonous temperament should remain in their being

Sympathy to all human should be their principle, and they should be fearful of God the Exalted. And save their tongues and their hands, and their thoughts of their heart, from each impure and discord making ways and dishonesty.

And keep establish five times Salaat with extreme commitment.

And be refrained from oppression, cruelty, fraud, bribery, waste of rights and improper side taking.

And should not sit in any bad company.

And if proven latter that a person who keeps coming to and going from them, he does not observe commandments of God the Exalted, or does not take any care of rights of people, or is cruel-natured or wicked-dispositioned or is misbehaved man,

Or this that, he wants to deceive servants of Allah the Exalted by having the continuous habit of ill speech, lengthy ill talk, foul mouth, slandering and fabricated lie, against the person with whom you have relation of Bai'at and devotion


Then it will compulsory for you that remove this evil from among you and avoid such human who is dangerous. [i.e. each person who speaks against Hazrat Promised Messiah (a.s.) avoid his company, friendship and connection with him, it is very dangerous….It does not mean that Message should not be conveyed. Avoid hypocrites and those who insist calling name to Hazrat Promised Messiah a.s. or Jama'at. Message should be given to good natured and who listen. ]

And it should be that, not to plan to harm person of any religion, any nation or any group. And be true admonisher for everyone. And it should be that mischievous, immoral, evil-charactered ones should never pass through your gatherings, nor they may live in your houses, as they shall be cause of stumble for your at any time.

These are those matters and conditions which I have been saying since beginning. It will be compulsory for each person from my Jama'at that they should practice all those Wills. And it should be that in your gatherings there should not be indulgence of any impurity mockery laughter. And walk on the earth by being of good heart, pure nature and clean thought.

Remember each evil is not worthy to be contended. Thus it is compulsory that make habit of forgiveness and overlooking for often times and use patience and clemency and do not attack on anyone in unlawful way, and keep passions of self suppressed. And if you do any debate or there is a religious conversation, do it with kind words and in civilized manner. And if anyone treat you with ignorance, the soon leave such gathering by saying Salam. If you are afflicted, and called names, and various bad words are said for you, then beware that you should not contend indecency with indecency otherwise you would be declared same as they are. God the Exalted wants that He make you such a Jama'at that you should become model of virtue and righteousness for all world. So remove such person from among you who is model of evil, mischief, discord making and evil-self. The person who cannot live in our Jama'at with meekness, virtue, self-discipline, kindness, soft language, good manners, good character he should soon leave us because our God does not want that such a person should live among us. And surely he will die in unfortunate-ness because he did not adopt virtuous path. So you beware, and become really good hearted, meek natured, and righteous. You will be identified by five timed Salaat and moral condition. And the one who has seed of evil, he will not be able to remain firm at this advice……It should that your hearts should be clean of deceit, and your hands free of oppression, and your eyes should be clean of impurity. And inside you, there should be nothing else except righteousness and sympathy for creatures. My friends who live with me in Qadian, they shall show high model in all their human faculties….I do not want that ever such a person should live among this Jama'at whose conditions are doubtful or any kind of objection can be placed at his character or there is any kind of discord making is his disposition or impurity of any kind is found in him. Thus it would be obligated and compulsory for us if we hear any complaint about someone that he does not fulfill Fraiz of God the Exalted on purpose, or is sitting in gathering of mockery and vulgarity, or he has any other kind of evil character he will be immediately separated from his Jama'at……The real thing is that the field which is prepared with hardwork, and is ripened, bad small plants grow with it too which are worthy of cutting and burning. Like this, law of nature has been existed, from which our Jama'at cannot be out. And I know, that the people who are truly included in my Jama'at, God has made their heart such that they hate evil by nature and love with virtue. And I have hope that they shall manifest very good model of their lives for people.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Messiah V (may Allah be his Helper) prayed that May Allah the Exalted do so that we spend our lives by keeping this advice and warning of Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) before us. The Bai'at-pledge we made, may we fulfill it. May our lives are spent for the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. May we present and manifest good model of our life before people by molding our lives, according to desire of Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). May Allah the Exalted grant us bounties by overlooking our weaknesses, show us the successes destined for Jama'at of Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). May the new rising year bring blessings and may the plans of opponents fail and be aimless, they are increasing in planning in opposing Jama'at. …… May Allah the Exalted fulfill the thirst of Ahmadis ..... who could not attend Jalsa Qadian. May Allah remove troubles of Ahmadis in Algeria…...…As opponent are progressing in excesses and cruelties we too should be more focused on prayers by molding our states according to the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. May Allah the Exalted enable us to do so. Aameen.

========
Reference: Based on Friday sermon (December 30, 2016) by Hazrat Khalifatul Messiah V (may Allah help him with His Mighty Help) , UK, alislam.org -- mta.tv